Product Description

Melanie Travis thought her sleuthing days were behind her. She has a new baby to take care of - not to mention five Standard Poodles - and Aunt Peg is getting Davey ready for his debut as a junior showman. These days, the closest Melanie gets to detective work is scoping out the scene at the local doggie day centre for her friend Alice Brickman.As Melanie learns, it's a dog's life at the Pine Ridge Canine Care Centre - and life is good.The dogs are living large with a team of groomers and handlers at their bark and call.Everyone seems blissfully happy. Everyone canine, that is. For Melanie soon discovers there are some simmering resentments among the Pine Ridge staff and when Steve Pine, the centre's charming, good-looking co-owner, is found shot to death on the floor of his office, there's no shortage of suspects. His sister Candy stands to inherit their lucrative doggie day care operation. His neighbour, Adam Busch, still blames Steve for paving the way for the other businesses that now exist in the once quiet, all-residential town. And then there's Lila Bennington, the disgruntled client who wanted to sue Steve following an embarrassing 'incident' involving a Shih Tzu and a Beagle mix. And lastly, the string of female customers Steve bedded and jilted. But which of these, suspects was desperate enough to commit murder?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #564504 in Books
• Published on: 2008-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780758216045
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

From Publishers Weekly
At the start of Berenson's warm and fuzzy 15th dog mystery (after 2007's Hounded to Death), Melanie Travis, standard poodle lover and dedicated amateur sleuth, checks out the Pine Ridge Canine Care Center in Stamford, Conn., on behalf of Alice Brickman, a mom recently returned to the work force who needs a place to park her golden retriever. On Melanie's second tour of the posh doggie day care center, she discovers the corpse of seriously cute Steve Pine, who co-owned Pine Ridge with his sister, Candy. On Alice's wacky recommendation (She's like Nancy Drew. Melanie finds murderers and makes them confess), Candy asks Melanie to catch the killer. Who cares if Melanie isn't a licensed PI or the local police department doesn't appear to investigate anything? With winning pluck and lots of luck, Berenson's cluehound pursues another cute tail-wagging puzzler. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review
"Warm and fuzzy... another cute tail-wagging puzzler." - Publishers Weekly"

Customer Reviews

Berenson is Always Best in Show
The newest, eagerly awaited, Melanie Travis mystery is as engrossing and enjoyable as expected. This book shows that a lot has changed in the Melanie's life lately....new house, new baby, new job status and a still-in-the-honeymoon-phase new husband. As I have said in a previous review, one of the best aspects of this series is that the characters are continually growing and developing. The changes in Melanie's life are realistic and interesting and the characters so likeable, that you will find yourself cheering them on. The setting of the doggie day care center is perfect for providing a diverse and often hilarious cast of characters/suspects. Melanie's interaction with the bratty receptionist is priceless. The mystery was unexpected with such a wide cast of suspects and I enjoyed the involvement of Alice Brickman, Melanie's best friend and the mother of Davey's best friend. It reminded me of Faith/Pix friendship in the Katherine Hall Page books and was a nice development in the series.

In general, this series avoids a number of pitfalls that drive me crazy in other series in this genre.....the angry, overprotective husband/boyfriend who doesn't want the heroine to investigate, the unrealistic, cheesy love life (usually a love triangle and/or the unlucky in love), the non-passage of time, etc. The tone and progression of this series is pitch perfect. The only thing I am kind of missing is the dog show backdrop, there is just so much atmosphere to enjoy at a dog show that the books that primarily take place at dog shows are my favorites. I do, however, understand that it would be pretty silly if someone dropped dead everytime Melanie went to a show. Also, I am ready for Aunt Peg to have another boyfriend :) All in all, another pick of the litter.

What a great series!
By chance, I came across this series of light-reading mysteries. I started with the first book and have read them all including this last one and I must say that I have enjoyed each one of them. I love the characters and have learned so much about poodles and dog shows. It has opened up an entirely new world for me. While I own two dachshunds and absolutely love that breed, I find after reading this series of books that I am really interested in poodles too!

If you're looking for a DaVinci Code type mystery, then this series probably isn't for you. But, if you are looking for some fun, light reading and love dogs, then this series is for you. Along with the mystery, you also get to learn so much about dog shows and poodles.

My only disappointment is that I learned this is the last of this series. Maybe Laurien Berenson will re-consider her decision and perhaps write a few more in this series. I really want to know what happens with Melanie, Sam, and all the characters and, or course, her poodles!

Doggy Day Care Murder
Laurien Berenson books are always fun to read. Although this is one in a series, each book can stand alone and is different enough to keep the reader interested and waiting for the next book! This book opens with Melanie, who shows dogs, checking out the 'Doggy Day Care' center for a friend who is going back to work and needs a place to leave her dog in the daytime. She wouldn't know what to look out for. Melanie meets the enthusiastic brother and sister who own and run the center, sees a bunch of very happy dogs playing together, resting in their rooms, and being very well taken care of. Of course, there's a murder and Melanie gets involved with the case. You meet a lot of different suspicious people, and follow along as she solves the mystery. You'll enjoy this book.